Audio

Key information

Stonechats are robin sized birds. Males have striking black heads with white around the side of their neck, orange-red breasts and a mottled brown back. Females lack the male's black head, but have brown backs and an orange tinge to their chests. Birds are frequently seen flicking their wings while perched, often doing so on the tops of low bushes. As its name suggests, birds utter a sharp loud call that sound like two stones being tapped together. They breed in western and southern parts of the UK, but disperse more widely in winter.

What they eat:

Invertebrates, seeds and fruit (e.g. blackberries).

Measurements:

Length:

12.5cm

Wingspan:

18-21cm

Weight:

13-17g

Population:

UK breeding:

59,000 pairs

Identifying features:

This bird species has different identifying features depending on sex/age/season.